The Knott Family Chronicles: Owen Knott (USB Escape) // Review

The Knott Family Chronicles: Owen Knott is a narrative puzzle experience from USB Escape. An unsettling letter arrives from a sender known only as ‘C’. They have included a USB stick they want you to examine the contents of. Dare you plug it in and see what horrors await?

Note: I’ll keep this review intentionally vague as I don’t want to ruin the experience for players by going into too much detail. With these sorts of narrative mysteries, it can be easy to spoil them. I will give an overview of my experience with the game and some hints about what it involves.

Players: 1+ // Age: 16+ // Playtime: 2+ hours

What you need: A pen or pencil. A PC or laptop with a USB port/adapter. The game can be purchased for either Mac or PC. It is important to ensure you order the correct USB stick as they are formatted for each computer type. While the game contents are entirely digital, it isn’t available as a digital-only download.

Synopsis

“Conventional escape rooms lock you in a room with a ticking clock and an assortment of puzzles. USB Escape brings that complexity and that intensity to your desktop for the ultimate immersive experience. Join us in solving a reality- bending virtual escape room puzzle collection.

Hours of story-driven puzzles explore the psychological horror of a broken family recovering buried truths. These will test your ability to observe the unseen and your commitment to uncover the truth. 

Have you got an inquisitive mind?”

First impressions

The Knott Family Chronicles: Owen Knott is primarily a narrative mystery that unravels through the exploration of files on a memory stick. Everything you need is contained on the stick, so you simply need to plug it into your computer and the investigation begins. You’ll also receive a wax-sealed letter that does a fantastic job of setting the tone of the game and kickstarting the creepy narrative.

The wax-sealed letter is a lovely touch that feels slightly off-kilter when paired with a piece of technology (the USB stick). Tonally this juxtaposition works within the game and only adds to the mystery. The use of multimedia really ramps up the horror with disturbing imagery and sounds.

This game does lean into some horror/psychological horror elements, which may not be for everyone. Personally, while I can be a bit of a scaredy cat sometimes, I did enjoy the building tension and whilst the ‘scarier’ parts left a lasting impression, they didn’t give me nightmares.

It’s also worth mentioning that the game is somewhat customisable. If you are ordering it for someone else then you can add personal details so that the letter is addressed to them (rather than the default, “Hello Friend”). USB Escape are happy to make other customisations which can be requested by email.

Gameplay

Getting started

Once you plug in the USB drive, you’ll be met with an assortment of emails, photographs and videos. These are split into dated folders that can be accessed in any order. I would strongly recommend working through these chronologically to avoid any spoilers for later parts of the story.

While most files are instantly accessible, you will come across password-protected folders. You’ll need to solve puzzles to discover the passwords and gain access to them. The contents will usually include key information that feeds into the overall narrative.

It was a little jarring at first to have no instructions and free rein to work through the files. I feel like this did add to the immersion though. If you were faced with this scenario for real you’d have to do the same thing. Starting on the oldest folder felt like the right way to go, and it soon became clear that this was the most effective way to work. I enjoyed piecing together the narrative puzzle as I gained access to more clues and could slowly start to fill out the details. As I progressed through the folders, I felt increasingly uneasy about what details I might uncover next.

Puzzles

The puzzles are well-themed and serve the overall narrative. Some are contained fully within one folder, while others may require you to piece together elements scattered throughout multiple folders. I found one or two far more challenging than the others, but generally enjoyed the variety of puzzle types on offer. If you are a fairly seasoned puzzler, you’ll likely find some of them quite easy, but this didn’t impact my overall enjoyment. Ultimately, as you solve puzzles and progress the game builds to a satisfying, but unsettling end.

If you get stuck you’ll be pleased to know that hints are available. They are integrated into the gameplay as ‘password reset’ hints. There are three for each puzzle, however, a solution is not available. If you require additional assistance you will need to contact the game’s creator.

I did discover some hidden puzzles/easter eggs during my playthrough, although I am unsure how many of these there are in total. Keep your eyes peeled!

Difficulty

The puzzles in this game weren’t too taxing, so I would classify it as easy to medium in terms of difficulty. Traditional puzzles are only one portion of the overall experience, with the unravelling narrative mystery being the primary focus and a puzzle in and of itself.

Verdict

About USB Escape